VIS, an island in the central Dalmatian archipelago, the highest peak Hum (587 m). The vast Komiza Bay, with sandy bottom, is situated on the western coast of the island. The southern coast is characterized by several smaller inlets (Travna Vela, Travna Mala, Stiniva, Ruda, Teleska Vela, Ploce, etc.). The town and the port of Vis lie on the northern coast of the island with many cliffs, of which Gradac Cliff is most impressive (100 m). The islets of Ravnik, Budihovac, Parzanj and Greben are situated off the south-eastern shore.

The island of Vis is exposed to the north-westerly and south-easterly winds. The main settlements on the island, Vis and Komiza, are connected by a road and ship lines. Apart from viniculture (modern wine production plants) and vegetables (early vegetables), fishing (fish cannery in Komiza) is also important. The island has a palm-tree nursery. Tourism is increasingly gaining on importance.

The first settlements on the island of Vis date back to the Neolithic period. The Illyrian tribe of Liburnians established there their small state in the 6th or 5th century BC, ruled by King Joni. The Syracusan tyrant Dionysius the Elder established at the beginning of the 4th century BC a colony on the island called Issa, on the location of the present Vis. Issa became later an independent polis, coining its own money and establishing colonies. From 47 BC it came completely under the Roman rule. The ancient Issa was probably destroyed during the migration period. In the Middle Ages the island was first under the Byzantine rule, to become later a part of Croatia. In AD 997 the island experienced a heavy attack by Venice. When King Ladislas of Naples sold his rights on Dalmatia to Venice in 1409, Issa came under the Venetian rule in 1420.

The imminent threat of the pirates made the inhabitants of Vis to organize their settlements in the interior of the island; the main centre of the island was Velo Selo. After the troops of King Ferrante I of Naples had devastated the island at the end of the 15th century, larger settlements, Komiza and Luka sv. Jurja (today's Vis) started to emerge on the coast. The island was administratively connected with Hvar for centuries. On the collapse of the Venetian Republic, it was under the Austrian rule between 1797 and 1805, a French colony from 1811 to 1814.

England established here an important marine stronghold, and Austria held it again between 1914 and 1918. In the 1866 war between Italy and Austria, one of the most important sea battles of the 19th century took place near the northern coast of Vis on the 10th of July, which Austria, led by Admiral Tegetthoff, won. After the Italian occupation from 1918 to 1920, Vis was returned to the parent country. In 1944 it was the seat of Tito's army headquarters.